Vehicle-axle lubricator.



ATENTED JAN. 7. 1908.

im/an by;

Wilizeasea v PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE RANKIN DODGE, OF WONDER, NEVADA.

VEHICLE-AXLE LUBRICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application filed April 8,1907. Serial No. 366.961.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE RANKIN DODGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wonder, in the county of Churchill and State of Nevada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- AxleLubricators, of which the following a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vehicle axle lubricators, andhas for its object to provide a simple and practical form of oil cupwhich may readily and with very little trouble be attached to the hubsof the vehicle wheels, and will serve to keep the wheels in properlylubricated condition at all times.

Another object of my invention is the provision of lubricating means forvehicle wheels which will insure of the lubricating agent coming inpositive contact with the journal parts to keep them in smooth runningcondition, the holder or cup tor the lubricant being of such structureand being applied to the wheel in such manner that the cup may berecharged at any time no matter what position the wheel occupies, sothat it will not be necessary to jack the vehicle up and turn the wheeluntil the cup is vertical.

A further object of my invention is to provide competent means toprevent the entrance of dust or foreign matter to the axle skein by wayof the lubricator cup, and to provide means for cleaning the oil openingin the hub of the wheel each time the wheel is oiled.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists of alubricant cup adapted for application to the hub of a wheel said cuphaving removable connection with the hub so that it may be readilyremoved and re-filled, and also provided with suitable means forcleaning the lubricating opening in the hub.

My invention further embodies certain other novel features ofconstruction, comb ination and arrangement of parts substantially asdisclosed herein and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1, is a sectional view of my improved lubricator as applied tothe hub of a wheel. Fig. 2, is a plan view of the securing plate bymeans of which the lubricator is held in position in the hub. Fig. 3, isan elevation of the stem or cleaner rod of the lubricator. Fig. 4, is aplan view of the bottom plate to the cup, and Fig. 5, is a like view ofthe washer which serves as a gasket to provide a tight joint between theshell ol" the cup and the bottom plate thereol.

hile my invention is particularly useful and desirable for use on heavywagons such as are used for li'eigllting purposes, it will save a greatdeal ol time and labor in the oiling of the wagons as well as insure theuse of the proper amount of lubricant without any waste or deficiency,it will be understood that it may be applied to the lighter types ofvehicles as well and with the same good results.

In applying the lubricator to the'hub of the wheel, a com mrativelylarge opening 1, is formed in the hub about mid-length thereof, thislarger opening terminating in a smaller neck or passage 2, which is indirect communication with the axle skein or thimble 3. A securing orattachment plate 4, which is curved to conl orm to the arc ol the hub,is secured thereto by screws or other suitable l'asteniugs 5, this platehaving a cei'itral threaded opening (5, therethrough in alinemont withthe larger opening in the hub but slightly smaller than the bore 01'said opening. The body portion 01 the lubricator cup consists of acylindrical shell 7, this shell having an exterior threaded portion 8,near its upper end for engagement with the threaded opening in thesecuring plate, the threaded portion terminating slightly inward fromthe upper end of the shell, to provide a plain annular end portion 9,upon which is engaged a washer 10, of leather or other suitablecompressible material, to form a dust protector. The lower end of theshell .is interiorly shouldered as at 11., to receive the split packingring or gasket 12, and the plate 13, which forms the bottom to the cup.The cap or linger hold 14, forms the top to the cup and in order toclamp the parts together, I employ the bolt rod 15, which is oppositelythreaded upon its ends to engage the cap 14 at the upper end, and a nut16 is mounted upon its lower portion to clamp the bottom in place. Thebottom plate is provided with notches 17 in its edges to engage andinterlock with corresponding lugs on the end ol the shell to secure theplate against turning, and a filling and exit opening 18, is also formedin the plate, to provide an entrance and exit for the lubricating agent.

The smaller passage or oil conduit in the hub is liable to becomeclogged with dirt and tarry products sooner or later, so in order toobviate this difliculty, I form the bolt rod with the split lower end orwings 19, which conform to the general shape of an auger bit, so that asthe cup is being unscrewed for removal and re-charging, the wings gatherup the foreign or hard material in the oil conduit and leave the sameperfectly clear.

If it is desired to oil a wheel equipped with my improvements, it is notnecessary that the wheel occupy such a position that the oil cup bevertical or even right side up, as if, for instance, the oil cup beupside down, the cup is simply unscrewed, re-filled through the openingin the bottom thereof, replaced in the hub, and the oil is properlydistributed as the hub revolves. If the cup be in an upright positionand it is desired to recharge it and lubricate the wheel, the lubricantmay be poured direct in the opening in the hub and the cup be replaced.

The oil from the cup gradually works out through the opening in thebottom plate of the cup'and fills the oil passage so that a plentifulsupply of the lubricant is retained in contact with the axle.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings,the many advantages and usefulness of my invention will be readilyappreciated, and it will be evident that I have provided a vehicle axlelubricator which accomplishes all the results herein set forth as theobjects of the invention in a thoroughly practical and efficient manner.

I claim:

1. A hub formed with a bore terminating in an oil passage, a securingplate applied to the hub, a cup received in the bore and having threadedengagement with the securing plate, a removable bottom to the cup havingan opening therethrough, and a bolt rod for securing the parts of thecup together, said rod having an auger extension for cleaning the oilpassage.

2. An oil cup comprising a cylindrical barrel, removable ends to thebarrel, one of said ends having an oil outlet therein, and a rodextending through said ends to clamp the parts together, and means onthe exterior of the barrel for securing the cup in place.

3. An oil cup for vehicle axles having removable ends and a clamping rodextending through the cup for securing the ends in place, said clampingrod having a split end forming an auger extension on the end thereof.

4. A hub having a bore therein terminating in an oil passage, a securingplate on the hub surrounding said bore, a cup having threaded engagementwith said plate and provided with removable ends, a clamping rod forsecuring the ends together, said rod having an auger extension adaptedto project iii the oil passage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE RANKIN DODGE.

Witnesses:

ALICE KUNZ, RUSSELL T. JoY.

